Leaf-gathering machine



Jan. 14, 1941.

E. c. GLEDHIL L 2,228,699

LEAF-GATHERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1939 2- Sheets-ShGBt l Jan. 14, 1941. 5 D I L 2,228,699

LEAF-GATHERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved leafgathering machine, and seeks, among other objects, to provide a machine of this naturewhich may be moved along over a surface and will gath- 8 er leaves from said surface, said leaves to be stored within the machine and transported therein to a suitable dump so that burning of leaves on streets or in gutters, with consequent injury and disfig urement to streets, will not be necessary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a leaf-gathering machine which will be so constructed that it will effectively clean the streets of practically all leaves and will retain said leaves against escape from the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a leaf-gathering machine which may be shifted quickly from a gathering position, with its forward edge adjacent the surface to be cleaned, to a transporting position, with the entire bottom clear of said surface.

-A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this nature having wheels recessed within the area of the frame employed so that the machine may be drawn along adjacent a 25 curbing for removing leaves therefrom.

As a still further object, the invention seeks to provide a leaf-gathering machine having a back wall which is hingedly connected to the body of the machine so that it may swing to an open position for permitting ready disposition of leaves contained in the machine at a suitable dumping place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a leaf-gathering machine which may be effective- 35 ly hitched behind a truck or light delivery automobile to be towed thereby.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved leaf-gathering machine, the machine being shown in transporting position,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the leaf-gatherering machine and showing it in leaf-gathering position,

Figure 3 is a perspective View, and

Figure 4 is a top plan View.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals will be seen to designate like parts throughout the views, the numeral I indicates in general the body of my improved leaf-gathering machine. The body I includes a frame 2 which includes inverted U- shaped bows 3, 4, 5 and 6. The bows are connected at their corresponding lower ends with a bottom 1. Asbest seen in Figure 4 of the drawings,-the body I is reduced in width throughout the rear portion of its length. The bows 5 and 6 will, therefore, be of less'width than the bows 3 and 4. As best seen in Figure 1, the bottom or chassis "I is made of structural steel beams. It has'been found that a floor made of five-ply hot resin bonded ply-wood, glued together with vegetableglue, will stand all kinds of weather conditions and will otherwise be highly durable. The 10 floor of my improved'machine is, therefore, made of this material. Extending between the vertical posts of the bows 3 and 4 are brace beams 8. The beams 8 extend from the corresponding lower portions of the posts of the bow 3 to the corresponding upper ends of the posts of the bow 4 and provide a rigid mounting for the bow 4. Corresponding brace beams 9 are connected between the vertical posts of the bows 5 and 6 for providing a rigid mounting for the bow 5. Top bars I0 and II connect the corresponding opposite ends of the bight portions of the bows 3 and 4 and provide a rigid unitary mounting for these bows at their corresponding upper ends. The lower ends of the bows 3 and 4 are, of course, securely fastened to the chassis or bottom I by bolting or in any other suitable manner. Top bars I2 and I3 connect the bight portions of the bows 5 and 6 at the corresponding opposite ends of their bightportions and provide a rigid mounting for the upper ends of said bows 5 and 6. These bows are, of course, like the bows 3 and 4, rigidly secured to the bottom I. As best seen in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the bows land 5 are connected by angular top bars I4 and I5 and angular intermediate bars I6 and II. The angular bars I4, I5, I6 and H are, of course, made necessary by the fact thatthe rear portion of the body is of less width than the front portion thereof. A connecting bar I8 which connects the mid points of the bight portionsof the posts 4 and 5 serve to provide an effective brace for the top of the body.

The frame '2 of the body I defines askeleton about which is fitted a cover I9 of wire mesh. The cover I9 cooperates with the frame andthe chassis for defining a container for leaves gathered. by the machine. The mesh of the cover I9 is of such gage that leaves will be prevented from escaping from the body.

Mounted onthe chassis rearwardly of the central portion thereof and near the forward end of the reduced portion are wheels 29 and 2|. The wheels 20 and2I are, as best seen in Figure 4, of such a size'that they will not extend outwardly past the longitudinal plane of the forward portion of the chassis. The advantage for this construction is that the wheels 20 and 21 will not contact the curb when the machine is being pulled along with the forward portion of the chassis in sliding engagement with said curb for the purpose of gathering leaves in a gutter. The wheels 20 and 2| are mounted on appropriate axles and are, of course, supplied with rubber tires which will prevent damage to the road surface over which the machine is being drawn. Although not shown, mud guards may be provided for the wheels, and these mud guards will be of any desired design.

Mounted on the forward end of the body at each side thereof are guard plates 22 and 23 which will aid in protecting the forward end of the body from damage from contact with curbing or the like. These guard plates 22 and 23 may be omitted if desired. For connecting the machine to a truck or light delivery vehicle, a draw bar 24 is provided. The draw bar is of substantially Y-shape and is provided with a trailer hitch member 25. Adjusting means 26, substantially identical with that shown in my Patent No. 2,021,660, is mounted on the body and cooperates with the draw bar for securing said bar in proper relation to the body I. Inasmuch as I am already protected on the draw bar construction and adjusting means therefor, it is not deemed necessary to discuss it further, other than to state that said draw bar will be of sufficient rigidity to stand the entire weight of the loaded machine together with the weight of a man in said machine. The draw bar 24 will be connected to members 21 which are connected to the chassis near the rear end of the larger portion thereof so that a proper swinging connection between the draw bar and the chassis will be provided.

The body I is provided with a rear wall 28 which is swingingly connected to the frame 2 by a hinge 29. A fastener 30 is connected with the wall 28 and serves effectively to latch said wall to the frame when said wall is in closed position. The wall 28 will, of course, be provided with a screen covering like the covering l9, said screen covering .in the wall being stretched about a frame 3|.

In use, the draw bar 24 is first connected with a suitable connection on a truck or light delivery vehicle and then the forward end of the body is raised to clear the road surface and the draw bar 24 latched to the forward end of the body by the adjusting means 26. The machine may then be towed to the location where the leaves are to begathered. When it is desired to place the machine in operation, the adjusting means is shifted for permitting the forward end of the body to shift downwardly for engaging the forward edge thereof, indicated at 32, with the surface on which the leaves rest. The machine is then towed forwardly and said machine will scoop the leaves into the body. A man will preferably stand on the floor at its forward end and will, by means of a pitch fork or the like, move the incoming leaves toward the rear of the machine and against the rear wall 28. It is desired to call attention to the fact that the weight of the man in the machine will tend to force the edge 32 into closer contact with the surface to be cleaned so that an effective cleaning operation will be assured. It is also desired to call attention to the fact that leaves will engage the edge 32 and will provide a mop. or

cushion. The result of this will be that the leaves will cooperate with the edge 32 for scooping the surface on which the leaves rest and effectively remove practically all leaves therefrom. It has been found, in actual practice, that this machine will gather nearly one hundred per cent of the leaves on the street. It is desired further to call attention to the fact that jarring and vibration imparted to the machine by irregularities in the road will serve to settle the The machine will clean the chine along a curb with the forward end portion thereof in engagement with the curb so that leaves, may be effectively removed from the gutter adjacent said curb.

After the machine has been effectively loaded,

the draw bar is shifteddownwardly and again fastened by the adjusting means so that, when said draw bar islifted, the forward end of the machine will be lifted so that it may be towed to a dump. After the dump has been reached,

the latch is loosened and the rear wall 28 \30 swung outwardly. The leaves within the body may then be pushed rearwardly and clear of the machine. After they have all been removed, the rear wall 28 is again fastened in position and the machine is ready to gather another load.

The use of my machine will eliminate burning .the leaves on streets with consequent damage to street surface. Moreover, there will be no more need for unattractive leaf-filled gutters. The leaves may all be burned at the dump and, therefore, smoke of burning leaves, which many find disagreeable, will not fill the atmosphere in residential neighborhoods. The machine is extremely fast in operation. It has been found that the machine may be moved along over the surface to be cleaned at speeds running from three to ten miles an hour, depending upon the volume of leaves. The result of this will be that street cleaning may be effected at much greater speed than has heretofore been possible.

Although my machine has been primarily designed for the purpose of removing leaves, it should be understood that it may be used for other analogous purposes. It should also be understood that modifications in structure, which fall within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to when necessary without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: v

1. In a leaf-gathering machine, a body having a relatively narrow rear portion'and a relatively wide front portion, a cover forthe body, wheels carried by the body at the forward end of said rear portion and rearwardly of the center of the body and the relatively Wide front portion, said body having a forward edge for engagement with a surface to be cleaned, a draw bar swingingly connected with the body and being adapted for connecting the machine to a towing vehicle, and means for adjusting the position of the draw bar with respect to the body, said draw bar being movable with respect to the body to one position for lowering the front edge into engagement with the surface to be cleaned whereby cleaning of material will be effected upon movement of the body over the surface, said draw bar being shiftable to another position for raising the forward edge of the body clear of the surface when the machine may be towed to a location where the material may be dumped, the disposition of said wheels rearwardly of the relatively wide front portion permitting positioning of said front portion adjacent a curb during a leaf-gathering operation.

2. In a leaf-gathering machine, a body having a frame comprising a plurality of bows, means bracing the bows with respect to each other, said frame having a chassis provided with a surface engageable forward edge, a rear wall for the body, means hingedly connecting the rear wall of the body, wheels carried by the body, said wheels being disposed within the plane of the forward portion of the body whereby said body may be drawn with the said forward portion adjacent a curb, and means adjustably connecting the body with a towing vehicle, said means being adjustable for positioning the body with the forward edge in, engagement with a surface to be cleaned whereby material will be scooped into the body and automatically moved rearwardly therein and said means being shiftable for raising the forward edge of the body above the surface to be cleaned when the body may be towed to a position for dumping the contents, said rear wall being shiftable for permitting removal of the material collected in the body.

EDWARD C. GLEDHILL. 

